"What test should I do?" Enya asked.
The three of them now stood just outside the chamber, waiting as the instructors worked to repair it. They’d been asked to step out temporarily—apparently, the chamber’s white stones could be restored by channeling mana through them, making it an ideal spot to test even the most destructive of spells.
“You said you’re a necromancer, right?” Manny asked.
“Mhm. I can summon skeletons and also shoot bone spears at people!” Enya replied.
In truth, her abilities were fairly limited when it came to direct combat. She could summon skeletons to fight for her, which was surprisingly effective. Even in the dungeon, her minions had managed to hold their own against stronger enemies. Commanding them was something she was still getting used to, though. She mostly gave simple commands like “protect me” or “attack.”
Aside from her skeletons, her main offensive skill was the bone spear spell—a quick, deadly way to strike from a distance. It worked well against softer targets; the bandit’s missing leg was proof of that. But against tougher foes, like the skeletal noble knight with its bone armor, the spears lacked penetrating power, acting more like blunt projectiles.
She had other skills, but they weren’t as reliable in combat. Visions Past was unpredictable and risky; if she had a vision mid-fight, it could easily cost her the battle. Technically, she had no control over it anyways. Absolute Focus was useful for tracking her opponent’s movements and slowing down time slightly, but it wasn't an attack. Realistically, her only offensive options were her skeletons and the bone spear. Bone Shift seemed too weak, and for five mana, it didn’t pack nearly the same amount of punch as a bone spear.
“Hmm,” Manny said, considering. “If you’re using skeletons, they might not do much against the barrier unless they’re all close-range fighters. A dummy could work if they’re attacking up close. Or there’s the reactive test, where one of the instructors attacks you, and you dodge or defend against it. That could be good if your skeletons are strong enough... but it’s probably the hardest test.”
“Sounds like the barrier or dummy test might be best, especially if you can use that bone spear to hit from a range,” Berry suggested.
The dummy test seemed like her best option. It would be more like fighting a real opponent, where her bone spears might actually do some damage. The barrier test didn’t feel right—she couldn’t summon enough skeletons without a corpse to make it worthwhile, and the reactive test being the hardest test may not work in her favor.
“Can… can I use the same spell multiple times?” Enya asked, glancing between Berry and Manny.
“You mean like when Manny used two circuits for his?” Berry raised an eyebrow.
“Uhh… no. I mean, can I keep using the same spell over and over to show how strong I am? Like, if Manny threw multiple air balls, or if you punched the barrier a bunch of times?”
Berry and Manny exchanged thoughtful looks.
“I didn’t punch the barrier more than once,” Berry said, “because my berserk state only lets me do single, powerful attacks. I’d need a few seconds to follow up with another punch at full power.”
“Same here,” Manny added. “It takes about ten seconds to gather enough wind for my Compressed Air Bomb spell. The instructors wouldn’t count it if I spent that time recharging for a second attack. It wouldn’t be practical for the test.”
Enya considered this. “What if I can cast the same spell really, really fast? Like… within one or two seconds?”
Manny shrugged. “If you’re talking about a combo attack… maybe? I guess it depends on how you do it. As long as it doesn’t look like you’re pausing between attacks, it might count.”
“Enya Peltere! The chamber is ready for you now!” the male instructor’s voice echoed from within.
The three of them stopped talking and headed back into the chamber. Inside, the floor gleamed pristine again, the white tiles as smooth as ever.
“Which test are you taking?” asked the instructor.
Enya glanced quickly at Berry and Manny. Manny gave her a reassuring nod, and Berry flashed two thumbs up.
“I’ll… I’ll take the dummy test,” Enya said, steadying herself.
"Very well," the man said, tapping his bracer and focusing on the crystal embedded within. Moments later, the ground in front of them trembled as the barrier dividing the chamber disappeared. A perfect circular outline appeared, creasing along the floor tiles in the center. The white stone tiles sank, machinery whirring beneath them, and after a few seconds, a new platform rose. It held the same white tiles, but now, a metal stand supported a wooden dummy resembling a miniature person.
"It’s ready when you are," announced the instructor.
Enya took a few steps forward, positioning herself about 30 feet away from the dummy. A quick glance behind her revealed the instructors observing closely, with Berry and Manny nodding and giving her encouraging looks.
Turning back to face the dummy, Enya focused her energy, activating Absolute Focus. Mana pulsed through her, synchronizing with her movements as her hands extended forward, angled slightly. Two spell circuits shimmered into existence, one in each palm, and their patterns filled rapidly as she channeled mana into them with precision.
The bone spear spell was simple in concept: summon a spike of bone from the ground, its size and speed determined by the amount of mana poured in. But technically, it was more involved. When cast, a small spell circle formed just below the surface she focused at, acting as the anchor point from which the bone spear erupted. She’d seen how durable these white tiles were—even Manny’s powerful wind spell hadn’t left them damaged, only scratched. If she cast her spears beneath the tiles, there was a chance they’d shatter before even breaking through.
The dummy test wasn’t about sheer power, unlike the barrier test. One powerful bone spear could be strong to stab at the target, but maybe not as impressive as what her friends just did. So… what if she cast multiple spears in rapid succession, creating a field of bone instead? By minimizing the mana in each spear, she could focus on producing as many as possible in a short time.
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Her circuits faded as she stopped her casting, the mana retreating to her core. If she relied on both hands, she could summon maybe four spears within a couple of seconds, but even that didn’t feel impressive compared to Berry and Manny’s attacks.
Enya’s thoughts shifted. She was a necromancer, a class built around summoning the dead. She should be showing off how cool necromancers are, along with herself.
An idea sparked in her mind. Back in the dungeon, before her promotion to necrosmith, she’d tested something: using spell circuits to inscribe simple commands directly onto her minions. She had carved the Create Light circuit right into the skulls of Dummy D. and Walnut. Once filled with her mana, the lights could flicker on and off at her command until the energy drained away.
But maybe, just maybe…
She turned to look at the instructors, who now wore puzzled expressions.
“Why’d you stop? Something wrong with the dummy?” the man asked.
“Ah… no, it’s just…” Enya hesitated, then trotted over to the male instructor, motioning for him to lean down. Though he exchanged a look with the female instructor, he crouched to her level, listening intently as she cupped her hands around his ear and whispered.
Berry, Manny, and the other instructor exchanged curious glances, watching the scene unfold. A moment later, the man leaned back, eyebrows raised, still crouched.
“A necromancer, huh… That’s… an unusual class. But as for your request…” He glanced thoughtfully at the female instructor. After a moment of deliberation, he grunted, got to his feet, and walked over to confer with her. Berry and Manny quickly joined Enya.
“What’s going on?” Manny asked. “Is everything okay?”
“Yeah… I just asked for a small favor,” Enya replied, keeping her voice low.
After about a minute of discussion, the male instructor returned. “Alright. We’ll allow it. You’ll have five minutes to prepare. Since your class depends on summons, it’s reasonable to assume you’d have them ready before a tournament match,” he announced.
Enya hopped forward again, gesturing for the instructor to crouch down one more time. He sighed, clearly not built for bending down repeatedly, but he complied. This time, she whispered something entirely different into his ear, and as he pulled back, his eyes fixed on the crystal embedded in his bracer. His gaze flickered over the details it displayed, and slowly, his expression shifted into one of surprise. The female instructor noticed this reaction and stepped over.
"What’s going on?" she asked, concerned.
He leaned in, cupping his hand to whisper into her ear. She checked her own crystal, her eyes widening as the information sank in. Her face then turned toward Enya, a broad but unmistakably forced smile appearing.
“You can take all the time you need,” she said, a sugary warmth in her tone. “We’ll inform the other applicants to wait.” Both instructors gave Enya a polite, almost overly respectful bow before they briskly exited the chamber.
Manny stared at Enya, flabbergasted. “What… did you do?”
“Yeah, why’d they just leave like that?” Berry added, equally bewildered.
Enya simply grinned. “The power of nobility!” she replied with a wink.
image [https://i.imgur.com/ZiLMGqb.png]
Ten minutes, and three and a half mana potions later—courtesy of the instructors, whom Enya now knew as Drend and Merendryl—she stood in the testing chamber with three freshly summoned skeletons.
“Wow… they’re all skeletons, but they look nothing like Pell. They’re different sizes and shapes,” Berry remarked, circling the creations and prodding them curiously.
“I’ve never seen a skeleton monster this close before,” Manny said, inspecting them more cautiously. “I’ve seen them in books… but undead monsters are really rare.”
“Pretty sure most people have never seen one before, Manny. They only exist in dungeons, and there hasn’t been any famous necromancer in like the past 100 years or something, not that I was told or read about—and I’ve read the rankings list.”
Off to the side, Enya worked with her bone-quill in hand, etching spells onto the forehead of her third, currently kneeling skeleton. She muttered to herself, “Almost… and… done!” She reached for her fourth mana potion, grateful for the extra energy the instructors’ potions provided. While she could have summoned four, the potions were beginning to lose their effectiveness. That being said, they were still far more potent than Pell’s, restoring a full 50 points per bottle instead of the usual 30. And on the plus side, it tasted like regular water!
“Mend! Derendale! I’m ready now!” Enya called out. A few moments later, the instructors entered the chamber once again.
“Er, that’s not our—” Drend started, but Merendryl gave him a firm pat on the shoulder. She shook her head with a gentle, knowing look.
“Just… let it go,” she murmured.
The instructor sighed, then settled back into his position within the chamber. “Alright, Miss Enya. We’re ready when you are.”
Berry and Manny moved to stand near the instructors, giving Enya room as she stepped into the center. Her three skeletons, all unarmed, took their places beside her. Though they lacked weapons, they had exactly what Enya needed.
She assumed the same stance as before, her hands raised at a diagonal angle. A spell circuit materialized above each of her palms, and she channeled mana into a full-powered bone spear. Beside her, glowing spell circuits lit up on each of her skeletons’ skulls, and they extended their right arms, palms facing the wooden dummy.
As her circuits filled, Enya issued a mental command, sending it through her connection with her minions. Her spell activated first: the circles above her hands pulsed as two bone spears erupted from the ground, positioned to strike the dummy from opposite sides. Almost immediately, three additional spell circles from her minions flared to life, each preparing its own spear.
The first of her bone spears launched forward, crashing into the dummy’s side, followed by the skeletons’ attacks. Enya channeled her mana rapidly, forming two new circuits before her previous spears even finished striking. Another wave of bone spears shot forward.
In the span of less than two seconds, Enya unleashed a barrage of seven bone spears from different angles and speeds—two from herself, three from her skeletons, and then another two in quick succession. The air trembled as the ivory spikes tore into the dummy from all sides, each blow whipping it in a new direction. The dummy, unable to withstand the onslaught, began to splinter and fracture, pieces breaking off with each impact. By the time her final spears hit, it was reduced to little more than shredded wood and cloth, with severed limbs and fragments lying scattered on the ground.
Enya exhaled, spinning around on her heel with a satisfied grin. “So… how’d I do?” she called out, hoping her display had impressed them.
The instructors stared at the devastated remains of the dummy, then shifted their stunned gazes toward her.
Drend tilted his head thoughtfully. “Hmm… the lethality is clear, and activating your spells so quickly would definitely catch an opponent off guard if they didn’t have quick enough reflexes.” He paused, considering his words carefully. “Compared to other test-takers your age who’ve taken the dummy test…” Drend emphasized, trying to make his assessment sound purely objective, “I’d give that a B-.”
Enya’s face scrunched in confusion. “Is… that good?”
“Uhh…” Drend stammered, looking momentarily flustered.
“Yes, it is good,” Merendryl interjected smoothly. “Most children score around a C, so yes, you’re above average.” Drend nodded appreciatively in her direction, relieved by the assist. “All three of you have passed and are free to go. On the day of the tournament, report to the tournament hall at 6 a.m., and don’t be late,” she added.
Enya’s eyes lit up as she clenched her fists. “Yes!” she exclaimed, pulling her hands to her chest with a triumphant grin.
Berry and Manny stepped up beside her. “Congrats, Enny! Looks like you’re in for the tournament,” Berry cheered, patting her shoulder.
Manny glanced at the doors, where muffled voices and shuffling feet hinted at an impatient crowd. “We… should probably go. I don’t know what you told the instructors for them to give you all that extra time, but we shouldn’t push our luck by sticking around.”
They all agreed, happy to have qualified. Now, the next challenge was preparing for the tournament in two days. But for now… maybe Enya could finally try that “crepe” thing Berry and Manny had mentioned.